Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Headache Pain

Completed · Phase 1/Phase 2

Conditions studied: Headache, Pain

In brief

The literature on the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of chronic pain is well established. Support for the efficacy of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and other mindfulness based treatments for chronic pain is building. Recently, research has demonstrated the efficacy of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in simultaneously addressing the outcome variables targeted by both CBT and mindfulness based treatment modalities. Although the efficacy of MBCT depression and for other populations has been investigated, there is no extant literature reporting on MBCT for chronic pain. The current application proposes to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of an MBCT protocoll adapted for chronic pain in a series of pilot groups with headache pain patients. We selected headache pain patients for this trial because headache pain is a common complaint in the general population, is the most frequently reported cause of pain in medical practice, and is one of the most disabling conditions for both genders combined. To examine the feasibility of the adapted protocol, the investigators will investigate a number of treatment related outcomes such as recruitment, completion, and drop out rates. Both primary and secondary outcome variables will be investigated to determine treatment efficacy. This study will provide a research base examining the feasibility and efficacy of MBCT for pain. Results from this study will lay the foundation for future randomized controlled trials comparing MBCT to attention control, and future comparative effectiveness studies of MBCT and CBT.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01213056

Run by

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

People needed

32

Starts

2010-04-01

Expected to finish

2013-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-12-02

Who can join

Age: 19 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• At least 3 pain days per month (for the past 3 months or more) due to migraine and/or tension-type headaches;
• Recent evaluation (within 6 months) of headaches by a physician, participants will also need to receive permission from their physician to take part in the study;
• Age of 19 years or older;
• Reading ability sufficient to comprehend self-monitoring forms;
• If currently using psychotropic or headache medications, use of these medications must have begun at least 4-weeks before treatment; and
• Agree to be videotaped during the group treatment sessions, although the video camera will be directed at the group leader, and not directed at the participant.

You may not qualify if…

• History of seizure or facial neuralgia, as these conditions might preclude the accurate diagnosis of headache;
• Significant cognitive impairment;
• History of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder or substance abuse as these conditions could result in a psychiatric emergency during treatment

Where it is running

• UATuscaloosa — Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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